In the last lesson we looked at John ten verses one through nine. In that study we seen that Jesus said he was the door to the sheepfold. We talked about the sheepfold, and about the shepherd. Tonight we are going to take up our study again in John ten, and verse ten.

John 10:10 10. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

[A] The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: [1] If you remember, we discussed how Jesus was actually ridiculing the Jewish leaders. [a] He referred to them as being blind [b] He referred to them as thieves and robbers

[B] Apparently they are what he is still referring to in this passage. [1] If you remember, when we talked about the sheepfold, we said that it had only one door, and the shepherd lay down in the door, becoming the door for the pen [2] The pen had walls of some sort of barricade around the other three sides and usually it had not roof over it. [3] There was two ways into the sheepfold, [a] Through the gate - as an honest man would have entered, [b] Over the wall, the way a dishonest man would have entered. [4] An honest man would have approached the shepherd if he wanted a sheep, and would have purchased it from him or the owner [5] A thief, would have climbed over the wall, and stolen the sheep, making off with it in the darkness of night. [6] A thief, although he may not have intended to kill when he began his stealing, will kill to keep from being caught.

[C] Here, Jesus is referring to the false teachers, and those who were teaching things that were not godly, [1] The Scribes and Pharisees, were among these people [2] They were corrupted in their teaching wanting only to make a name for themselves, and to gain riches from the people [3] The same holds true for today, as preachers of the Gospel, preach to get rich , instead of preaching to win souls for Christ.

[D] On the other hand, Jesus said, : I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. [1] Questions [a] What was Jesus speaking of here? [b] What is this life he was referring to? [c] How can a believer have life more abundantly though Jesus Christ?

John 10:11-13 11. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

[A] Until now in this passage, Jesus has been referring to himself as the door to the sheepfold,

[B] Here he refers to himself as the Good Shepherd. [1] How can he be both? [2] How can he be the door to the sheepfold and the good shepherd? [a] Jesus is the door to heaven [b] He is the only way anyone can enter into the presence of Almighty God. [c] He is also the good shepherd because he cares for and looks after his sheep. [d] He loved them so much that he was willing to lay down his life for his sheep

[C] On the other hand, he said that those who were a hireling, ran away when they seen danger [1] What was he referring to here?

[D] The hireling fleeth because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep. [1] The Shepherd was responsible for his sheep, whether they were his or not. [2] If he lost a sheep while he was on duty keeping them, he was expected to repay the owner for it. [3] This being the case, the shepherd still had a relationship with his sheep, he knew them by name and they recognized his voice. [4] The hireling, on the other hand, had nothing to lose except his life, [a] Instead of putting himself in danger, he ran [b] Instead of protecting the sheep, he protected only himself. [5] How, if any way, does this relate to the world today?

John 10:14-16 14. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15. As the Father knoweth me, even so I know the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

[A] Jesus is the good shepherd, [1] He knows his sheep, and his sheep knows him. [2] What does this tell us about our relationship with Jesus? [3] What does this tell us about fear?

[B] Then in verse fifteen, he refers to himself and his father. [1] The father knows me [2] I know the father. [3] I lay down my life for the sheep. [4] Can you see how this comes full circle, [a] The sheep knows the shepherd who is Jesus [b] The shepherd - Jesus knows the sheep who is us. [c] The father knows the Son who is the good shepherd [d] The Son knows the father [e] Because we know Christ, and he knows the father, and because the father knows the Shepherd and the shepherd knows us, we can know then that the Father knows us as well, and we in turn, through the Son can know the father.

Verse sixteen [A] What does Jesus mean hear by having other sheep which are not in this fold [1] The fold he was referring to was the gentiles, whereas the fold he has been talking about was the Jews [2] Jesus already knew that we would be in his fold, and he was planning to make a for us to enter.

[B] What does he mean when he said them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. [1] His goal was to make disciples who would eventually preach to the gentiles, so that they too could hear his voice and come to him [2] Did this happen? [3] The shall be one fold - How could they all be one fold? [a] They are one under Christ [b] In the eyes of Jesus, there are no nationalities, or religions, only those who believe in him and follow him will inherit eternal life, no others

John 10:17-18 17. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

[A] This is s powerful scripture, [1] Jesus said that the father loved him because he lay down his life, [2] Why would he make such a statement? [3] Didn’t God love him because he was his son? [a] Certainly he did [c] So there has to be something else here, doesn’t it? [4] What is the one thing that God wants more than anything for his people [a] Obedience [5] Why was Jesus laying down his life? [a] Because God the father wanted him to in order to redeem us. [6] So then, one could say that God loved him exceptionally much simply because he was obedient to him and was willing to do what he told him to do. [7] If that is the case, what does this tell us about obedience to God and his commandments

[B] Another powerful fact for us to look at here is Jesus saying I lay down my life, that I might take it again. [1] Who killed Jesus [a] No-one, he lay down his life so he could take it up again. [b] No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down myself. [2] Jesus said he had the power to lay it down, and he had the power to take it up again. [3] How did he know this, [a] This commandment have I received of my Father.

John 10:19-29 19. There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. 20. And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him? 21. Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind? 22. And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. 23. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. 24. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. 25. Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. 26. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 27. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

[A] As we have seen several times before, There was a division among the Jews [1] Some said that Jesus was a Devil [2] Others said that he couldn’t be a Devil - because a devil can’t open the eyes of the blind

[B] Then they came to him and asked him point blank [1] How long dost thou make us to doubt? [2] Are you the Christ, [3] Tell us plainly.

[C] Jesus said in verse twenty-five [1] I told you, and ye believed not: [2] The works that I do in my Father's name, bear witness of me.

[D] He continued in verse twenty-six through twenty-nine [1] But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. [2] My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: [3] And I give unto them eternal life; [4] Thy shall never perish, [5] Neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. [6] My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. [7] Questions [a] What do these statements mean to you? [b] What did Jesus say with the statement no man shall pluck them out of my hand?

John 10:30-42 30. I and my Father are one. 31. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33. The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. 34. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? 35. If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; 36. Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? 37. If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. 38. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. 39. Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand, 40. And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode. 41. And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true. 42. And many believed on him there.

[A] Jesus made the statement I and my Father are one. [a] What does this mean?

[B] After making this statement, the Jews picked up rocks and was ready to stone him to death.

[C] What did Jesus asked them in verse thirty-two? [1] Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

[D] What was their answer? [a] For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

[E] Then Jesus asked them a very interesting question in verse thirty-four and thirty-five [a] Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; [b] In old testament times, Rulers were considered Gods, Not the same as God in Heaven, but as a ruler, a magistrate over the people, [c] If he called them gods, etc. If the Scripture spoke of rulers as gods, because in the Old Testament time they were regarded as the representatives of God, what right had the unbelieving Jews of Christ's day to call him a blasphemer because he, whom the Father sanctified, called himself the Son of God.

[F] Verses thirty-seven and thirty-eight [a] Jesus told them if he did the work of God, believe him [b] If he did not do the work of God, stone him.

[G] Verse thirty-nine [a] Again they tried to capture him [b] Again he escaped them - because it was not yet his time.

[H] Verses forty through forty-two [a] Jesus then went to the place where John had baptized [b] Apparently many of John’s converts were there [c] They reasoned among themselves, that John had performed no miracles like Jesus did [d] Yet everything that John said about him was true [e] Many of the people there became followers of Jesus at that time